Why The Successful Launch Of India’s Largest Rocket Is A Big Deal

Without getting into the incredibly nerdy numbers of the flight of the GSLV Mark III, it is more important that we get a bit excited about it. Here's why its a pretty big deal.

1. This is our entry into the world’s most exciting space journey – human flight. The GSLV Mark III rocket is capable of taking 3 astronauts to space.

2. It’s pretty high tech, with remote control navigation of the unmanned crew module. Due to its weight (it’s the heaviest thing we’ve put in space), India used the largest parachutes we’ve ever made to have it splash down in the Bay of Bengal.

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3. It’s a legit 'Made in India' achievement, with an Indian-made 3.7 tonne crew module. ISRO has also got the cryogenic engine technology right this time. Godrej Aerospace and Walchandnagar Industries Ltd helped make the GSLV Mark III rocket possible; Godrej gave the two Vikas engines for the rocket’s second-stage, and the six thrusters on the CREW module, and Walchandnagar provided motorcases, tankages and ‘end rings’ for the first stage (S-200).

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4. In the future, when space flights become more common, we’ll be saving on forex by launching our own massive communication satellites instead of relying on the West.